Machine for turning wood heel blanks



Sept. 22, 1953 w. J. GRENIER 2,652,865-

- MACHINE FOR TURNING WOOD HEEL BLANKS Fi 1ed Feb. 3, l949 5Sfieets-Sheet l Myred J Grant er 2 m M Amy fz var-afar:-

Sept. 22, 1953 W. J. GRENlER MACHINE FOR TURNING WOOD HEEL BLANKS FiledFeb. 5, 1949 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Iii/rag J: firenzer Sept. 22, 1953' w. J.GRENIER 2,652,865

MACHINE FOR TURNING WOOD HEEL BLANKS Filed Feb. 3, 1949 I I 3Sheets-Sheet 3 -Mfaoj Grenzer Patented Sept. 22, 1953 UNITED STATESPATENT orFrcE ,0! :HEEL

Wilfred J.- Grenier, North. 'Rutland, Mass.

Ap l cati n F bruar 94=Q,. eria 0.- 741 .3

4=Claims.

'fI'he present invention relates to improvements in woodworking machinesand moreparticularly, to improvements in wood-heel turning machines. Theprimary object of the present invention 'is to provide a :machine forautomatically turning the two oppositely disposed side portions of awood 'heel blank in a manner which will enable this work toJoeperformed'by unskilled labor, with no more effort than "is requiredmerely to place the blank in the machine, which will securely clamp theblank and'h-oldit in place during the turning operations, and willautomatically discharge it at the end of the cycle of operations. Ajfurtherobject of the present invention is to provide a machine of-theabove notedtype which ,is so designed that it may be quickly and easilyadapted for the automatic turning of difierent size wood heels byrelatively unskilled personnel. -With the above and other objectsinv-iew, as will' hereina-f-ter appear, the invention comprises thedevices, combinations, and arrangements of parts hereinafter set :forthand illustrated in the accompanying drawings of a preferred embodimentof the invention, from which the several features of "the invention andthe advantages attained ==thereby will be readily understood by thoseskilled intheart.

Inthe accompanying drawings,

.1 represents --a {rent elevation -=view -01 ;a machine in which thepresent invention is=i-nc orporated.

Fig. 2 representsasectionalview orthepresent machine ta'kensubstantially along --the line -2- 2 of Fig. 3 represents, :on anenlarged scale, one of the several clamping heads which is employed onthe p'resen-t machine.

Fig.4 represents a :bottomplan -view of the .clampingeheaddisclosedinFig.3. ;Fig..=.5 represents :a-.-sectional viewof-thepresent machinetaken substantially along the line:5-*5 or Eig. v1.

Eig. 6 trepresents a -;se,c tional .-view taken substantially along {theline ,:fi-6 of :Eig. :1.

.Fi =72renresents, .on an enlar d scale, a sectional sview through 1 anair valve, :yvhich view is taken substantially ,along' the iiline 'lof1.

fig. 8 neptesents, .01 :anenlarged .scale, a see.- tiena .=v.iew throu han air waive, zwhich view :is t en ubstantiallyalong .theliner 1-43. of'51, Files. 29., :10 and 11 represent, respectivel top, aside-land..endviews of :a wooden l'leeleblank ofst-he :typewhic'h is adapted -to =befed to the presentumachine.

Figs. :12, -13 and '14 represent, respectively,- the '2 t p. sid nd andvie s of a hee a th semi e e ted I! n; .l'a pre e t a hin 5 repr ent o nlar ed sca e a Pe spective iew of a c v yo mec ani m whic ma .be used inmniun iiqn w h res n m chine, for the purpose of successively placing aplu a i y o 990 71 1 blan s w th n t e a ell bl nk e'ri pinemecha sm caed .upq the machine.

Fie 16 rep esent a ee iqna Vie ta en bnt al a ong he l ne i o "F ga dlus a es e eo ve or e q ae sm a ne mvi ed w t an air cylind p feedin thfifl b a k b ee he laws the cl m heads" one of whichi disclosed 'ln itsblank-receiving position. I

'Fig. 17 represents a sectional view of a modified form of the presentmachine, which sectional viewis taken substantially along the line 6 f:Fig. '1.

As hereinabove noted, Figs. :9, ll) and 1-1 illustrate the heel lolankof the'type which isadapted to "be fed to the present machine. --It istobe noted that this particular blank is of a peculiar shape which -hasbeen imparted to the'b lank 'by means of a so-called cupping machine.Actually, such a cupping 1nachine is adapted to receiyea substantiallyrectangular shaped blank for the purpose of forming the so-called cupsurfaceon the=top portion of the-blank. Figs. 1 0 and-l1 particularlyillustrate this cup surface which is slightly concave and is designatedby the nume-ral I8. 'Ihe present machine is adapted to receive-thesecupped blanks and to form at either side portion of the blank, a concavesurface which j-iS designated by the numeral 19. Upon completing thesurfaces 1 9, +9, the heel is then in a completed state and maybesecu'redtothe sole portion of thatgtype of shoe which is known in thetrade-bythe term-wedgies.

- The present machine comprises a-pair oflaterallyspaced frame elements20 and -21 which are rovided at their upper portions -w-ith bearingblock-s =22, for -tl1e- -pnrpose of receiving a sub stantiall-yhorizontally disposed -main shaft 23. -Su-rrounding but a not I securedto the .main shaft -'-23 is--a vertically disposed cam plate -24 whichie supported-upon spaced uprights-25, I 25. Referring particularly to==Fig s. --1 and '5, -'-there is -secured"to"-the-shat*2-3 a pair ofspaced rotatable i-rame elementsifi and Seen-red upon the upright frameelement 20, and between the two'leg portions thereof, is a gnotorsupportplatform zfl upon'which is secured an electric motor-Z9. This motor isprovidedior 3 the purpose of rotating the shaft 23 in a clock wisedirection, as viewed in Fig. 5. In order to so rotate the shaft 23, themotor 29 may be provided with a speed reduction means 30 which isultimately connected with a small drive pulley 3|. This drive pulley 3iis connected to a driven pulley 32 by means of a belt 33. The drivepulley 32 is rigidly secured to the shaft 23 and thus rotation of themotor 23 will drive the shaft at any desirable speed. 7

Referring now particularly to Figs. 1 and 5,

the rotary frames 25 and 21 are each provided with a plurality ofradiating arms 34, 34 which provide mounting means for a plurality ofclamping heads which will be hereinafter more fully described. Rotatablymounted between a pair of the aligned arm portions 34, 34 of the spacedshafts 35, 35. Although the present invention contemplates the use ofany reasonable number of .such shafts, in the form of the inventionherein illustrated, six shafts are employed. Referring particularly toFigs. 1, 3 and 6, it is to be understood that the righthand portion ofeach of the shafts 35, as viewed in Fig. 1, is rockably mounted within arespective one of the arms of the frame 21, while the other end portionof each of the shafts is similarly mounted within a respective one ofthe arms provided on the frame 25. Also, it is to be observed that theleft-hand end portion of each of the shafts 35 is bent at right anglesto the shaft proper, so as to provide a crank element 36. Mounted on theend portion of each of the cranks 36 is a cam follower element 31 whichis adapted to track the various cams which are provided upon the innerface of the cam plate 24. The structure and function of the cam plate 24will be described in more detail hereinafter.

As may be best observed in Figs. 1, 3 and 5, there is securedintermediate the end portions of each of the shafts 35, 35, a clampinghead ele ment which is generally designated by the numeral 38. Morespecifically, each of these clamping heads includes a frame element 39which is secured directly and rigidly upon and intermediate the ends ofits associated shaft 35. One edge portion of the frame 33 is providedwith a blankreceiving slot 40. The right-hand end portion of this slotmay have its face serrated, as at 4i, to provide a stationary abutmentmember against which a wooden blank 42 may be secured by means of amovable jaw element 43. This jaw 43 is carried upon the distal endportion of a piston shaft 44, the other end portion of which extendsinto a hollow cylinder 45. A circular piston 46 carried upon the endportion of the shaft 44 is adapted to be actuated within the cylinder byair which enters the cylinder by means of a flexible hose 41. Anair venthole 48 is provided at the right-hand end portion of the cylinder topermit the free movement of the piston 46 which is normally biasedtoward the left-hand end portion of the cylinder by means of a coilspring 49. Thus, it is to be understood that the piston is normallydisposed at the left-hand end portion of the cylinder, whenever the airwithin the cylinder is at atmospheric pressure only. When the piston isin such a position, the movable jaw 43 is in its open or non-clampingposition. Whenever air under pressure is introduced into the cylinder,the piston and piston shaft 44 will move.

in a right-hand direction, and thereby look a heel blank 42 against thestationary jaw .4 I.

Mounted upon the right-hand end portion of of the armature shaft 53 ofthe motor 52. armature shaft 63 is also provided with a second theclamping head 38 is a pattern member 53, the shape of which governs theactions of the present machine to the end that each of the blanks 42 isturned so that the blank, at the end of the machine cycle, will have ashape similar to that of the pattern 50. The function of the pattern 50will be more fully described hereinafter.

Referring now particularly to Figs. 1, 2, 4, and 5, there is providedupon the frame member 2| and between the leg elements thereof, asupporting flange 5! upon which is secured an electric .motor 52. Thismotor is adapted to drive a pair of cutting elements 53 and 54 which aremounted, respectively, upon a pair of parallel rotary shafts 55 and 55.More specifically, each of the shafts 55 and 56 is rotatably mountedwithin a respective one of a pair of stationary sleeves 5? and 58 whichare, in turn, secured within a pair of cylindrical housings 59, 59.Referring particularly to Fig. 2, it will be observed that each of thecylindrical housings 59, 58 is mounted upon the frame element 2 l, andthat the shafts 55 and 56 extend through their respective sleeve andhousing mem bers so as to have mounted upon their distal ends, pulleyelements 60, 65. As may be best seen in Figs. 1 and 2, the upper pulley60 is connected, by means of a belt 5i, with a driving pulley .52 whichis carried upon the end portion This pulley 54 which is connected to thelower pulley 55 by means of a crossed belt 65. From this, it will beappreciated that whenever the motor 52 is energized, each of the cutters53 and 54 will be rotated in synchronism and in opposite directions fromeach other.

As may be best seen from Figs. 1 and 4, each of the cutter shaftssupporting sleeves 57 and 58 has mounted thereon a freely rotatablewheel element 56. More specifically, each of these wheel elements may berotatably carried upon the sleeve, and a pair of snap rings E7, 61function to retain the wheel in its proper axial alignment, due to thefact that each of the rings is received in the usual fashion withinagroove provided within the sleeve 58. As will be hereinafter more fullydescribed, each of the clamping heads 38, 38 is adapted to be rotatedabout the axis of the main shaft 23 in a manner such that its patternelement 50 will be first drawn over the upper guide wheel 66, to the endthat the cutter 54 will turn one edge portion of a respective one of thewood-heel blanks in a manner as controlled by the shape of the patternelement 50. Thereafter, as the clamping head continues in its circularpath, the pattern 50-is adapted to engage the lower control wheel 55, tothe end that the cutter 53 will turn the opposite side of the wood-heelblank in a manner as controlled by the shape of the pattern element 55,thereby to complete the wooden heel.

As hereinabove noted, each of the clamp head supporting shafts 35, 35 isprovided with a cam follower element 3'! which is adapted to track thecams which are provided upon the inner face of the cam plate 24. As isbest illustrated'in. Figs. 1 and 6, the cam plate 24 is provided with aprimary stationary camstrip 68 which is rigidly secured to the frame.Also secured to the frame face are secondary stationary cam strips 59,69' and 10. During the operation of the present machineythe unturnedwood-heel blanks are in- .asindicated by that head'shown in the upperassess-t left-hand portion oftlie F'ig. 5. h's soon :as the blank isinserted-between the jaws, air is introduced into the cylinder 4-5,tothe "end that the heel blank is rigidly clamped in place. Appropriatemechanism, which will hereinafter be described, functions both tointroduce the air with in the cylinder, for the purpose of clamping theblanks, as well as to cause the evacuation of the cylinder, for thepurpose of permitting the finished heel to drop away from the machineand into a tote box or upon a continuously moving conveyor system.

Still referring to Figs. 1, 5 and "6, it is to be noted that each of thecam followers 31, 31 rests against the upper left-hand outer edgeportion of the scam track 68, as its clamping head commences its cycleof rotation. Continued movement of the main shaft 23 causes the clampingheads to be carried about the shaft, randli t is manifest that thepositions cf the individual clamping heads are entirely determined andcontrolled by the positions of the cam followers 31. It will be notedthat the upper right-hand edge portion of the cam tracktti curvesdownwardly, as at ll, thereby to cause each cam follower to engage theupper portion of a bell crank cam 12 which is pivotally mounted upon thecam plate 24 by means of a pin T3. Aspring 1 3, having one end securedto the plate 24, and its other end secured to one end. of the bell crankcam, functions to urge a cam follower 31 in a counter-clockwisedirection, to the end that its associated pattern element 50 willforcibly engage the upper control wheel 66. From this, it will beappreciated that the movements of the clamp head about its pivotal axisis thereafter controlled for a definite interval by the shape of thepattern member 59. Furthermore, as the clamp head is pulled past thecontrol wheel 66, the upper cutter 54 will function to turn one'side ofthe heel blank 42 so as to shape the heel blank ina desired manner ascontrolled by the shape of the pattern element 50. Upon the completionof each initial turning or cutting cycle, each cam follower 3 will bedelivered between the two curved stationary cam strips 69 and 69' whichwill control the movements and position of the clamp head, as the samecontinues in its 'rotative movements about the axis of the shaft 23.

When each of the cam followers 31 reaches the lower portions of thestationary cam-strips 69 and 68, it will be delivered between the upperedge portions of apair of pivoted cam strips l5 and 16.Morespecifically, the lower cam strip 15 is pivotally mounted 'uponthecam plate 24 by means of'a pivot pin 77, while the upper cam strip 16issimila'rly mounted upon apin 13. A flat spring element 19 carried uponthe plate 24 by means of a pin 80' functions to bias the cam strip Iiiin a clockwise direction about its pivot pin 78 and against the strip15. Thus, it will be appreciated that as a cam follower 3'! isdeliveredbetween the cam strips 15 and '16, it will be biased by meansof the spring 19 in a clockwise direction, to the end'that thepatternel'ement 56 will en age the lower control wheel 66. Thus, as theclamp head is rotatedabout the axis of the shaft 23, the heel blank 42will-engage the lower rotary cutter 53, to theendthat the other sideportion of the blank will be turned in a manner as controlled by theshapeof the pattern element 59, thuscompleting the secondary turning orcutting operation.

.Referring particularly to Figs. 1 and 6, it is to be understood thatthe lower cam strip 15 is pivotally connected at its intermediate endportions to the upper end portion of a piston rod 8 1 which is connectedwith a piston' disposed within a dashpot cylinder 82. This dashpotcylinder 82 is of conventional designand functions as a shock absorberto prevent the'wood-heel blank from being jolted into contact with thelower cutter 53 under the impetus-of the spring T9.

After the second turning or cutting operation, each cam follower 31 willleave the cam strips J5 and 16 and engage the stationary strips 68 andIt. Continued rotation of the mechanism will permit each :cam follower3! to swing clear, under the-force of gravity, from the primary camstrip 68, until the clamping head is positioned adjacent the curvedupper left-hand portion of the strip '58, at 'which time the follower'31 will engage the o'uter periphery of the strip for the purpose ofswinging the clamp head to a horizontal position, preparatory toreceiving a fresh wood-heel blank. v

In order to control-'the opening and closing or the several movable jaws43, 43, the present in vention contemplates the provision of a specialair valve which is best illustrated in Figs. 1, 6, 7, and 3. Referringparticularly to Figs. '-'7 and 8', this valve comprises a stationarymember '83 which surrounds the left-hand end portion of the shaft 2 3,and has its left-hand face portion secured directly to the cam plate 24.Cooperating with the member 83 is a member '84 which surroundsand issecured to the shaft 23 so as to rotate in synchronism therewith.However, as will be particularly observed in Fig. 1, the respectivefaceportions '85 and. B6 of the members 8-3 and-8d are disposed in intimatecontact witheach other, and are adapted to rotate relative to each otherduring the operation'o'f the machine. The stationary member 83 has anarcuate groove 81 formed in its face 85, and communicating with thisgroove is an inlet aperture 88 which may be connected by means of a hose89 (see Fig. l) to a vacuum pump n'olt herein disclosed. It will beunderstood that fthe aper'ture '88 extends through the cam plate 24 soas to be suitably connected with the hose 89.

Also formed within the face 85 of themember 83 is a second arcuategroove so which is connected with the atmosphere by means of an aperture91 which passes directly through the cam plate 24.

The membert l of the air valve .is suitably-coupled directly to theshaft 23, and its face 86 is provided with a plurality of apertures 92,=92 which are so located thereabout that they will communicate with the:arcuate grooves 3 and of the member -83 as the member 84 rotates withthe shaft 23. As may be particularly ob-- served in Fig. 6, ea'ch-of theapertures 92, 92 may be connected toarespective-one of the air cylinders55, by means of aflexible hose M. 'From this, it will be appreciatedthat as the member 84 rotates in synchronism with the sha'ft '23, thevarious apertures 92, 92 will alternately be connected with the pressurechamber or groove 8-! and the =exhaust chamber or groove st, to the endthatith-emovable jaws 43, d3 will be actuated in a proper sequence. Morespecifically, the'areu'ate grooves 8 1 and 86 are-so disposed withinthe'stationary valve member 83 that they will cause the c'losingof eachof the movable jaws 43, 43 whenever its associated cam follower 3:1reachesthe horizontal portion of the cam strip 68. Fu'rthermoreJth'e jawwill remain closed until the clamping head reaches a positionadjacentthe-lowestpoint in its rotative movement,

at'which juncture theturning or cutting cycles have been completed andthus, the clamp will then be permitted to open under the force of thecoil spring 49. The completed wood heel will then drop away, under theforce of gravity, from the clamp head and then fall into a tote box orupon a movable conveyor belt. From the above, it will be appreciatedthat the present machine is adapted for automatically turning or cuttingthe two oppositely disposed side portions of a wood-heel blank in amanner which will enable work to be performed by unskilled labor. Inother words, with the exception of placing the individual blanks withinthe jaw portions of the clamping heads, the entire machine cycle isentirely automatic and no attention need be given to the machine by theoperator with the exception of the feeding operation.

Furthermore, it is manifest that the present machine may be quickly andeasily adapted for the automatic turning of different size wood heels byrelatively unskilled personnel, for the simple reason that such a changeover requires merely the removal of the various pattern elements 50, 50and the replacement of these elements with new elements having adifferent size and shape. Such an operation merely requires amanipulation of a pair of pattern-securing bolts or screws 93, 93.

The present invention also contemplates the provision of means wherebythe above described machine may be automatically loaded with woodheelblanks. Referring particularly to Figs. 15 and 16, there is disclosed apair of laterally spaced rollers 94 and 95, each of which is mountedupon a respective one of a pair of shaft elements 96 and 91, theopposite end portions of which may be rotatably journaled within theupstanding side members 98 and 99 of a sheet metal framework designatedby the numeral I00. An endless belt IOI may be trained over the rollers94 and 95, and for rotating this belt in a counterclockwise direction,as viewed in Fig. 15, the distal end portion of the roller shaft 91 maybe provided with a belt pulley I02. An electric motor, not herein shown,may be provided for rotating the pulley I02 through the medium of a beltI03. As is particularly disclosed in Fig. 15, the framework I may bemounted upon suitably supporting legs I04, I04 so that the entireconveyor mechanism may be disposed in front of the machine in a mannersuch that the blanks may be conveniently fed to the various clampingheads 38, 38.

Still referring to Fig. 15, it is to be noted that the upper sideportions of the framework I00 project upwardly above the upper surfaceof the endless belt IOI so as to function as guide elements.Furthermore, the left-hand end portion of the framework is provided witha curved apron or guide I05 which is spaced from and concentrically ofthe roller 94 so that it will provide between itself and the roller apassageway, the Width of which is just sufiicient to receive the heelblanks when they are fed to the guide side foremost. Spaced at the lowerleft-hand side portion of the roller 94 is a guide plate 106 whichfunctions in conjunction with the lower portion of the apron I05 tohouse a single wood-heel blank and to support the same in a position 90out of phase from that which it occupied while being fed along the beltIOI. As may be particularly observed in Fig. 16, each of the sideportions 98 and 99 of the framework are provided with aligned aperturesI01, I01, which will permit 8 a wood-heel blank to be fed away fromthe'co'nveyor and between the open jaws of one of the clampingmechanisms.

Still referring to Figs. 15 and 16, there is provided with the presentconveyor mechanism an air cylinder I08 which is secured to one side ofthe conveyor by means of a flange I09. This air cylinder is providedwith a piston I I0 and has a piston rod III, the right-hand end portionof which is aligned with the apertures I01, I01 and carries ablank-supporting member H2. The left-hand portion of the cylinder I08 isprovided with an air hose II3 which may be connected with the abovenoted air pump. Thus; if air, under pressure, is delivered to thelefthand end portion of the cylinder I08, the piston rod III, with itsblank support II2, will move in a right-hand direction so as to feed asingle wood-heel blank through the right-hand aper-I tures I01 andbetween a pair of jaws carried on one of the clamping heads. Ashereinabove noted, the jaw elements of the clamping heads 38, 38 are inan open condition when they reach the highest point in their path oftravel, after which the above described valve mechanism 83, 84 functionsto close the jaws. From this, it will be appreciated that the piston rodI I I should be synchronized with the motion of the shaft 23, so that awood-heel blank 42 may be inserted within the open clamping jaws of eachclamp ing mechanism just prior to the closing of the latter. In order toaccomplish this objective, the present invention contemplates theprovision of a three-way air valve mechanism II4 which may be mountedupon the upper portion of the cam plate 24 by means of a flange or angleplate I I5. This valve mechanism may be of the usual commercial typewhich is provided with an actuating lever II6 which is normally biasedinto its closed position by means of a leaf spring II1. This handlemember H6 is so positioned that it will be engaged by each of the camfollowers 31, 31, as the clamping heads 38, 38 rotate in a clockwisedirection, as viewed in Fig. 6. From this, it will be appreciated thatsuch a valve II4 may be connected with the air hose II3 so as to fillthe piston I08 with air, under pressure, whenever the valve II4 istripped by a respective one of the cam followers 31, 31. After a camfollower has released the handle II6, it will be effective to exhaustthe air cylinder I08 so that the piston I I I may be returned in aleft-hand direction under the action of a coil spring I I8 providedwithin the cylinder I08 and about the pieton rod III. In its normallyinoperative position, the support member II2 of the piston rod III isdisposed within the confines of the conveyor mechanism so as to receivethereupon a wood-heel blank, as the same is fed into the channel formedby the guide apron I05 and the wall member I06. Such a support memberII2 will function to maintain the lowermost heel blank at a properelevation during the feeding stroke of the piston rod III, so that theblank will be properly positioned within the jaws of one of the severalclamping heads. Furthermore, it is to be noted that the support memberH2 is provided with an upper horizontal portion II9 which functions toengage that heel blank which is disposed adjacent the heel blank whichis being fed toward the clamping head, so as to prevent the upper blankfrom interfering with the feeding motions of the piston rod iII. As soonas the piston rod is retracted into its inoperative or left-handposition, the member IIO will release the block so that it may fall uponthe support member II2, preparatory to the feeding of such ablock intothe jaws of an empty clamping head. From the above, it will be readilyappreciated that the present conveyor mechanism is most simple andeifecti-ve, for it Will relieve the operator of the rather tedious jobof placing a single heel blank within each of the clamping mechanisms38, 38, as the same comes up into its heel-receiving position. Since thepresent machine is adapted to operate at a relative- Iy high speed, itwill be appreciated that without the present conveyor mechanism, anoperator would soon be subject to extreme fatigue. However, the presentconveyor mechanism will permit an operator to remove heel blanks from atote box and place them upon a conveyor belt I01, with an expenditure ofvery little effort.

, Ashereinabove noted, the contours of each of the heel blanks isgoverned by the particular shapeof the individual pattern elements 50,50. In the event that the machine is to produce heel blanks havingdifferent contour shapes, it is necessary, with the above describedmechanism, to remove the various pattern elements '5 and to replace themwith pattern elements having different contours. The present invention,however, contemplates a modified form of the above described mechanismin which the six similar pattern elements 59, 50 may be entirelyeliminated and replaced by a pair of cams. or pattern elements I20 and IH which are secured to the cam plate 22 in a manner as is particularlyi1- lustrated in Fig. 17.

' Referring particularly to Fig. 17, it is to be noted that each of thecam elements I20 and I2! is rigidly secured to the face of the member2a, and cooperating with a respective one of these cams or patternelements is a spring-biased member I22 and I23. More specifically, theup per member I22 is pivotally secured upon a pin I24 and is urged atall times toward the pattern element I20 by means of a leaf spring I25.Also, the lower member I23 is pivotally mounted upon a pin I26 and isurged toward its associated pattern element I2I by means of a leafspring I21. Between the stationary pattern elements I20 and I2! may bepositioned a stationary guide element I28, while another stationaryguide element I29 may be rigidly secured to the plate I24 adjacent theend portion of the pattern element I2I. The-cam strip 68 which isdisclosed in conjunction with the first described form of the presentinvention, may be retained in this second form of the invention. Thus,from the above, it will be appreciated that as each of the cam followers31, 31 track about the stationary cam strip 63 in a clockwise direction,they will be ultimately delivered between the stationary pattern elementI20 and the spring-biased element I22, so that the cam follower 3'I, asit continues to rotate, will be forced to follow the outline of theactive portion I30 of the pattern element I20. This latter patternelement has its active portion I30 so shaped so as to successively forceeach of the wood-heel blanks against the upper cutter element 54 insubstantially the same manner as is illustrated in Fig. 5. After thefirst cutting cycle is completed, the cam follower 31 will be deliveredbetween the confines of the lower or secondary pattern element I2I andits cooperating member I23, the latter of which will force the camfollower to traverse the active portion I3I of the pattern element I2I.The active portion I3I of this lower pattern element will urge thewood-heel blank against the lower cutter 53 in substantially the samemanner as is illustrated in Fig. 5'. After leaving the pattern elementI2I, the cam followers 31 will traverse substantially the same path aswas described hereinabove in connection with the first form of theinvention. This modified form of the invention is, advantageous in thatit permits an operator to set up the machine for the production ofdifferent type wood-heel blanks by merely replacing the two patternelements I20 and I21, whereas in the first form of the invention, it wasnecessary to replace six of the pattern elements 58, 50. In thisconnection, the present inventionv also contemplates the provision ofadjustable pattern elements in lieu of the nonadjustable elements I20and I2I. A pattern element of the adjustable type is completelydisclosed in my United Statesv Patent No. 2,603,257, issued July 1952,for Woodworking Machine. In the event that such adjustable pat:-

tern elements are employed in conjunction with,

the present machine, it will be manifest that the machine may be readilyaltered for the production of various size wood heels by merelyadjusting each of the cam elements according to a predeterminedschedule, thus obviating completely the necessity for the completereplacement of such elements.

I claim:

1. A wood shaping machine comprising, a pair of cutters each rotatablymounted about a respective one of a pair of laterally spaced axes, aplurality of work-holding clamps, a clamp-carrying frame rotatablymounted about a first axis disposed substantially in parallelism withthe axes of said cutters, with each clamp rockably mounted about apivotal axis movable with said frame, and laterally spaced from anddisposed in parallelism with said first axis, means for opening andclosing said clamps in a predetermined sequence, means for rotating saidframe to carry each of said clamps about the frame axis and past each ofsaid cutters, and means effective during continuous travel of the framefrom one cutter to the other to oscillate each of said clamps about itspivotal axis thereby to control the cutting action of the cutters uponthe work carried by the clamps and to cause each clamp to have a firstside thereof presented to one of said cutters and a second side thereofpresented to the other of said cutters so as to cut successively the twoopposite sides of each work piece.

2. A wood shaping machine comprising, a plurality of work-holdingclamps, a clamp-carrying frame rotatably mounted about a common firstaxis, with each clamp pivotally mounted on said frame about a respectiveone of a plurality of secondary axes circumferentially spaced about anddisposed in parallelism with said common first axis, means for openingand closing said clamps in a predetermined sequence, a pair of cutterseach rotatably mounted about a respective one of a pair of laterallyspaced axes located adjacent the circular path traversed by saidrotating clamps, means for rotating said frame about said common firstaxis to carry said clamps past said cutters, and means effective duringcontinuous travel of said frame from one cutter to the other tooscillate each of said clamps about its individual secondary axisthereby to control the cutting action of the cutters upon the workcarried by the clamps and to cause each clamp to have a first sidethereof 11 presented to one of said cutters and a second side thereofpresented to the other of said cutters so as to cut successively the twoopposite sides of each work piece.

3. A Wood shaping machine comprising, a rotary main shaft, awork-carrying frame mounted on said shaft, a plurality of work-holdingclamps each pivotally mounted upon and at circumferentially spacedlocations about the periphery of said work-carrying frame, a pair ofcutters each mounted upon a respective one of a pair of rotary shaftsdisposed adjacent the periphery of said work-carrying frame, means forrotating said main shaft so as to convey each of said clamps to and pastsaid cutters, fluid-actuated means for opening and closing said clamps,a valve for controlling the supply of a fluid pressure medium to saidclamps, to operate them in a predetermined sequence in response to therotative movements of said Work-carrying frame, a camfollower memberconnected with each of said clamps, and cam means engaged by saidcamfollower members so as to cause the clamps to oscillate about theirrespective pivotal axes thereby to control the cutting action of thecutters upon the work carried by the clamps and to cause each clampsuccessively to have a first side thereof presented to one of saidcutters and a second side thereof presented to the other of said cuttersin response to the continuous rotation of said main shaft through anangle corresponding to the peripheral displacement of said cuttershafts.

4. A wood shaping machine comprising, a rotary main shaft, awork-carrying frame mounted on said shaft, a plurality of work-holdingclamps pivotally mounted upon and at locations spaced circumferentiallyabout the periphery of said work-carrying frame, a pair of cutters eachmounted upon a respective one of a pair of rotary shafts disposedadjacent the periphery of said work-carrying frame, means for rotatingsaid main shaft so as to convey each of said clamps to and past saidcutters, means for opening and closing said clamps in a predeterminedsequence in response to the rotative movements of said work-carryingframe, a stationary plate disposed adjacent said work-carrying frame,cam means disposed upon one face of said plate, and a cam-followermember connected with each of said clamps and extending into engagementwith said cam means so as to track about said cam means in response tocontinuous rotative movements of said main shaft through an anglecorresponding to the peripheral displacement of said cutter shafts,thereby to oscillate said clamps back and forth about their respectivepivotal axes, said cam means being adapted successively to cause eachclamp to have a first side thereof presented to one of said cutters anda second side thereof presented to the other of said outters so as tocut the two opposite sides of each Work piece.

WILF'RED J. GRENIER.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS NumberName Date 66,184 Stearns June 25, 1867 2,045,390 Howe June 23, 19362,151,875 Sosa Mar. 28, 1939 2,426,487 Clausing Aug. 26, 1947

